Letters to the Editor

How about Beer-Barrel Man for the kids? I mean, it is Coors Field, filled mostly with yuppies; it's not that much for kids. I'll be glad when they hire some other idiot in a different clown suit so that you can tackle some issues. Or I guess they could use the same guy. Do you care about his holding gainful employment?Jimi BernathEnglewood

Regarding last week's letter from Jesse Hall: Ah, to be young, carefree and ignorant again. I didn't bother reading the whole thing, but I got the gist of it: It's okay to use vulgarity anywhere, I guess. But I'd sure like to see his reaction if I walked up to him in a bar and said, "Fuck you!"

I like Michael Paglia, and when he applies his discerning eye to objective criticism, he can hit a home run. But though he rarely strikes out, he has a penchant for hitting foul balls — as he did in your October 11 issue when he launched a personal attack against me and three of Denver's top-notch public servants.

As president of the AIA Denver, I have the privilege of recognizing individuals with President's Awards. At Denver's recent annual design awards, I recognized architect John Anderson for his life-long stewardship of the city's built environment. I also recognized Denver Planning Director Peter Park, who is in the final stages of a monumental effort: rewriting and standardizing Denver's obtuse zoning code. The AIA is grateful for his efforts — making it easier for all businesses, developers and especially architects to do business in Denver.

Kim Bailey, director of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation, brings intelligence, energy and integrity to the job of managing a complex department challenged by severe budget cuts. Vilified for changes in operations and policy, Kim deserves recognition for her willingness to take risks, create partnerships and consider alternative approaches.

I have worked with Tyler Gibbs for fifteen years and share his passion for historic context and structures. Tyler has long served the AIA, representing our interests even when his employer, the City of Denver, disagrees. All the way back in 1994, Tyler opposed the city and was tireless in his efforts to preserve I.M. Pei's hyperbolic parabaloid.

To suggest that honoring these individuals is "shameless careerism" — designed to advance the Civic Center as the best site for the Colorado History Museum — is to admit that Paglia is surprisingly naive about the decision-making process in Denver. Park, Bailey and Gibbs have little to do with the final decision about the museum. That outcome is in the hands of the mayor, city council, the governor, the legislature and, ultimately, the public.David TrybaDenver

Personally, I found this article captivating but poorly researched and essentially impolite to messengers. I cannot believe that you let Adam Cayton-Holland go to press without closer consideration of what he said about people who have contributed to the culture of bicycle messengering. The book that Adam disclaims without any examination, The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power, was written by a courier who is working at Denver/Boulder Couriers. If Adam had done any research, or had any right to an opinion about messengers, he would have come across my "Wisconsin-level cheese" and found a cliff more staggering than he's ever seen in the creamy city of Denver.

Coming from Chicago, I challenge his right to generalize. Without understanding that real messengers, like Jaimie, J-bone and myself, read and also write books, Adam appears to be taking the very intelligence of messengers for a ride while exploiting the reputation of a veteran in Boulder. Until he's read my book and, at the very least, corrected his comment about the place of its origin (which should offend Wisconsin in a way that is beyond apology), I advise your publication to second-guess how close to the pulse of culture this journalist really is. His comment reeks of a hyperbolic, exploitive, Denver-biased nepotism that makes me laugh.Travis Hugh CulleyBoulder

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